MEDITERRANEAN ports with Viking shuttles

[shmabbies]

I thought possibly we could start a thread about the Mediterranean Viking ports where shuttles are run (either by Viking itself or by the port authority) from the port into town and reverse (not embarkation & disembarkation transfers, just shuttles).  I know the information is available upon boarding, but for planning purposes it’s helpful to know in advance.  I thought this one could be for Mediterranean ports – with the exception of Venice which due to the situation there probably needs its own entire thread.  I have seen information scattered about regarding shuttles but I thought something cohesive would help.  Then maybe someone else would want to start a separate one for Scandinavian ports, Caribbean ports, the dreaded Venice port, and so on. 

 

For my purposes, I am interested in information about possible shuttles in Athens, Kusadasi, Chania, Rhodes, Heraklion, and Naples.  Whether they even exist would be helpful to know, and from there all details would be welcome, but where in town it drops off/picks up is of most interest, cost if any, etc.  Thanks in advance and if I have missed an already established separate thread, please point me in its direction!

[FetaCheese]

December 2021, Greek Odyssey, Chania Crete, V provided shuttle to city. Nothing around port, Souda Bay.

 

Athens -- yes, to Hadrian's Gate -- Plaka district.

 

Rhodes -- no, docked at Old City.

 

 

Edited January 10 by FetaCheese
Addl info

[OneSixtyToOne]

Naples has no shuttle. You dock at the terminal building and upon exiting, public transportation and cabs are available. The docks are right in Naples and there is no need for a shuttle.

View from our aft cabin of Naples. You are yards away.

 

The Athens shuttle drops you off at Hadrian’s Arch near the Plaka District. This is a major hub for all the tour busses.

 

 

Edited January 10 by OneSixtyToOne

[Messybill]

Dubrovnik:   Right by the Pile Gate.   It is a bit of a walk up the hill (follow the outside of the wall) to get to the base of the cable car run to the top of the mountain, but it is worth the walk.

 

There is also easy access to the old city from here.  This is the opposite end of the Stradun from the old harbour, where there are boats for Lokrum and other points of interest.

Edited January 10 by Messybill

[Messybill]

Corfu: In front of the old Fortress and beside Spianada Square.   Right in the middle of everything.

[OneSixtyToOne]

Marseille: Shuttle to City Hall

[OneSixtyToOne]

Monaco: No shuttle. There is a public ferry that will take you from the dock area across the harbor to the Monte Carlo district and the Casino.

 

[FetaCheese]

7 minutes ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

Monaco: No shuttle. There is a public ferry that will take you from the dock area across the harbor to the Monte Carlo district and the Casino.

 

Was docked for Monaco/Nice many decades ago.  They said port was Villefranche.  Your photo reminds me of that port.

Edited January 10 by FetaCheese
Addl info

[OneSixtyToOne]

9 minutes ago, FetaCheese said:

Is this the port of Villefranche ?

No, it is right in Monaco (Port Hercule). It was originally listed as a tender port but we were able to dock. As you can see from the previous post, only space for one VO sized ship so timing is everything.

 

View from the ship with casino in the background:

 

 

 

Edited January 10 by OneSixtyToOne

[FetaCheese]

6 minutes ago, OneSixtyToOne said:

No, it is right in Monaco (Port Hercule). It was originally listed as a tender port but we were able to dock. As you can see from the previous post, only space for one VO sized ship so timing is everything.

 

View from the ship with casino in the background:

 

 

 

Thank you.  Such beautiful views.

Edited January 10 by FetaCheese

[Mich3554]

Barcelona, the shuttle drop off/pick up is at the statue at the top of Ramblas.

[Peregrina651]

2 hours ago, Mich3554 said:

Barcelona, the shuttle drop off/pick up is at the statue at the top of Ramblas.

 

All the times I've been in Barcelona with Viking, all pre-pandemic, the pick up point was on the esplanade in front of the World Trade Center.  So, my question is whether Viking has switched pickup point permanently or are they alternating between the two locations? Maybe folks who have been there in 2023 can tell us their experiences. 

 

@Mich3554 is the statue you are referring to the Colon statue?

 

[Peregrina651]

11 hours ago, shmabbies said:

I thought possibly we could start a thread about the Mediterranean Viking ports where shuttles are run (either by Viking itself or by the port authority) from the port into town and reverse (not embarkation & disembarkation transfers, just shuttles).  I know the information is available upon boarding, but for planning purposes it’s helpful to know in advance.

 

@shmabbies  GREAT THREAD!  Thank you for starting it. Very, very helpful information. 

 

And thanks to everyone for all the visuals.

 

We need more threads like this one, threads focusing on the things we want to know about the ports.

Edited January 11 by Peregrina651

[Mich3554]

12 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

All the times I've been in Barcelona with Viking, all pre-pandemic, the pick up point was on the esplanade in front of the World Trade Center.  So, my question is whether Viking has switched pickup point permanently or are they alternating between the two locations? Maybe folks who have been there in 2023 can tell us their experiences. 

 

@Mich3554 is the statue you are referring to the Colon statue?

 

When we went in 2021 and in 2023, it was the same spot.  
 

I don’t remember the statue, sorry.  The bus we were on just pointed out the shuttle drop off point.  Since one trip we were on our way to Monserrat, another a seaside town, I didn’t pay too much attention to it.  We had been to Barcelona pre covid in 2019, but there was a 

Catalan demonstration going on so no day in Barcelona.  Viking docked there long enough to drop off passengers to take to the airport.  

[SantaFe1]

12 hours ago, Peregrina651 said:

 

@Mich3554 is the statue you are referring to the Colon statue?

 

We were there March 2023.  Yes, it is the Colon statute.

[shmabbies]

Thanks everyone!  This has been a great help to me and I hope others as well!  The ironic thing for me is that I've actually been to all the ports I asked about, but mostly used private tours or the occasional ship tour and consequently I never really had reason to know or ask about shuttles.  

 

I don't want to hijack my own thread, but if you haven't been UP in the Colon/Columbus Statue while in Barcelona, be sure to take the time to do it (yes, it has an elevator).

[Peregrina651]

Viking has a couple of itineraries that leave Barcelona and sail out through the straights of Gibraltar, stopping at a couple of different ports depending on the itinerary.

 

Valencia Spain: (I can't remember; we took cabs to and from our destination)

Cartagena, Spain: No shuttle because it is walking distance.

Malaga:  A bus waiting area next to the Port Authority. Here's a map. It's much more clear this way. The asterisk marks the pick up spot; the arrow points the direction to the ship. Don't be fooled, it was an 8-10 min ride to the ship from the shuttle stop.

 

 

Viking also has sailings stopping in Ajaccio, Malta, Algiers, Tunis, Casablanca, Cadiz on the schedule -- of which  I can report on Algiers (no shuttle).

 

 

[LindaS272]

Yes, there was a shuttle in Valencia, walking distance to the big plaza by the Town Hall. But I couldn’t tell you the street. We took the included walking tour and found our way back after the tour.

[shmabbies]

Can anyone describe the situation in Kusadasi?  It's been a huge number of years since we were docked there.   Thanks!

[OneSixtyToOne]

25 minutes ago, shmabbies said:

Can anyone describe the situation in Kusadasi?  It's been a huge number of years since we were docked there.   Thanks!

I just checked the Viking Daily from our trip last year. There is no shuttle. The cruise terminal is right in town.

 

We took the optional Ephesus tour which ended with a rug weaving demonstration at a shop. Afterwards we walked across the street to the cruise terminal.

 

 

 

Edited January 15 by OneSixtyToOne

[shmabbies]

Thanks for that info!  That is what DH remembered from many years ago but he recalled construction kindof hindering our walk.  We are in Kusadasi twice on our cruise and Viking only allows you to book an included excursion once per port, so it is on our first docking that we are doing the included Ephesus excursion.  Don't remember the Kusadasi sign shown in your photo!  Looks like the one in Marseille!

[OneSixtyToOne]

3 minutes ago, shmabbies said:

Thanks for that info!  That is what DH remembered from many years ago but he recalled construction kindof hindering our walk.  We are in Kusadasi twice on our cruise and Viking only allows you to book an included excursion once per port, so it is on our first docking that we are doing the included Ephesus excursion.  Don't remember the Kusadasi sign shown in your photo!  Looks like the one in Marseille!

It’s really worth the extra cost to visit the Roman homes at Ephesus, some of the best preserved in the world.

[shmabbies]

Have already done them and agree well worth seeing, especially with a knowledgeable guide!